The pronoun they at the beginning of this verse clearly refers to the people of Israel. This may be made clear in the receptor language by replacing the pronoun if it seems more natural. It may also be more natural to restructure the verse so that the reader is told first about David’s having set up the tent for the Covenant Box and then about the Israelites bringing the Box in and placing it inside the tent. The use of the past perfect tense, had pitched for it, accomplishes the same purpose in English, but the resources of the receptor language may not allow this possibility.

The Temple was not yet built and would, in fact, be built by his son Solomon only after David’s death. Translators should not use the same term or expression here for tent that they use elsewhere for the Temple.

And David offered …: the conjunction at this point may be rendered more creatively as “Then” (New American Bible as well as Good News Translation), showing the next step in a sequence of events.

Burnt offerings and peace offerings: these two types of offering are explained in detail in Lev 1.2-17 and 3.1-17. Translators should ensure that their use of such terms is consistent throughout the Bible. Note that the second of these is called “fellowship offerings” in Good News Translation and New International Version. See also comments at 1 Sam 10.8.

The following restructuring of this verse may be helpful to some translators:

• David had the Tent set up for the Covenant Box. Then the Israelite carriers brought the Box and put it in its place in the Tent. After that David offered sacrifices and fellowship offerings to the LORD.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

And: this conjunction may again be omitted in translation.

Blessed the people: in some languages it will be more in keeping with the meaning of this passage to say something like “he asked God’s blessing on the people…,” because in some languages only God can actually bless. Or, perhaps better, one may say “he used the name of the LORD Almighty to invoke blessing on the people.”

The LORD of hosts: see verse 2 above as well as 1 Sam 1.3.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Distributed: the direct object of this verb in Revised Standard Version is some distance from the verb itself, and this is the cause of the restructuring found in other versions. The verb is translated “share” in 1 Sam 30.24 and “divide” in 2 Sam 19.29. But in this passage the context allows for an object like “food” (New Revised Standard Version as well as Good News Translation) if a general statement is made before the details are given. Some translators may prefer the rendering of Contemporary English Version, “He gave all the men and women in the crowd a small loaf of bread, some meat, and a handful of raisins.” However, the expression the whole multitude of Israel should probably be retained, since it seems to emphasize that a very large group was involved.

A cake of bread: since the English word cake implies something sweet, this may be more accurately translated “a loaf of bread” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New American Bible as well as Good News Translation). This was probably ordinary bread and not something sweet.

A portion of meat: while the words so translated may refer to a cut of roasted meat, this meaning is far from certain. Other possible interpretations are “one roll” (Fox), “a cake of dates” (Anchor Bible, New International Version, Jerusalem Bible, and New Century Version), and “a cake made in a pan” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Goldman). The expression is found only here and in the parallel passage in 1 Chr 16.3. Many modern scholars seem to prefer a rendering containing the idea of meat (New Revised Standard Version and Revised English Bible as well as Good News Translation).

A cake of raisins: this was a mass of dried grapes, or raisins, pressed together. So the word cake may be misleading and should rather be translated in many languages as “block,” “bar” or “mass.” On the word raisins see 1 Sam 25.18; 30.12.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The common Hebrew conjunction here indicates the passage of a certain amount of time between the celebration and David’s return to his home, where he went to greet the members of his family. Many versions begin a new paragraph here, and some use transition words that indicate the passage of time, such as “Afterward” (Good News Translation). New American Bible accomplishes the same purpose by beginning the new paragraph with a temporal clause: “When David returned….”

Bless his household: while the verb bless is the same here as in verse 18 above, the circumstances require a different meaning. In Old Testament times a blessing was often a kind of greeting, so in this context the most likely meaning is that David was going to his home to greet the members of his family following his absence. It is translated by the verb “greet” in Anchor Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh as well as Good News Translation. Translators should probably avoid a literal rendering of this verb except in those languages where blessings are used as greetings.

Michal the daughter of Saul: in some languages it may be considered redundant and awkward to repeat the information that David’s wife was the daughter of Saul. But if it is not unnatural, it may be repeated, since the writer may have been intentionally emphasizing this fact, in view of her opposition to David.

How the king of Israel honored himself today: Michal was speaking ironically and saying the opposite of what she really meant. If this kind of device is commonly used in the receptor language and is readily understood by the readers and hearers, it may be retained in translation. But if it is likely to be understood in its literal sense, it may be better to translate “The king of Israel has made a big fool of himself today.” Also, the use of the third person reference when speaking directly to the king may be distracting and the cause of misunderstanding. Some languages will therefore have to say more directly “You, the king of Israel, have made a big fool of yourself today.”

Uncovering himself: the idea here is that of exposing private parts of the body in public. This is especially offensive when the opposite sex is present. Michal’s accusation seems to imply that David intentionally revealed the most intimate parts of his body to the servant women who were present when the ark was brought to Jerusalem. Several versions have “exposing himself.”

Before the eyes of his servants’ maids: that is, in the presence of the young women who acted as domestic servants for the men who were officials under David. Some may prefer to translate “in front of the servant girls of your officers” (New Century Version).

Vulgar fellows: the basic meaning of the term used here is that of “emptiness” (for example, in Ruth 1.21; 1 Sam 6.3; and 2 Sam 1.22), but in this case the persons involved may be thought of as being empty-headed, foolish, or worthless. Some versions have words like “riffraff” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Anderson) or “buffoon” (New Jerusalem Bible), terms used for persons considered of little value to society. Revised English Bible speaks of “a vulgar clown.” The term is used in the same way in Judges 9.4 and 11.3.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

And: the conjunction simply marks the continuation of the story line. In some languages it may be translated “But” (New American Bible), “Then,” or possibly left untranslated. In some cases the beginning of a new paragraph will be sufficient to mark this transition.

Said: the verb used here is perhaps better translated “answered” (Revised English Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh as well as Good News Translation) or “replied” (New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible) in this context.

It was before the LORD: Good News Translation supplies the idea “I was dancing,” which is only implied in the Hebrew. It may be a good idea to make this information explicit in many other languages, as, in fact, some manuscripts of the Septuagint did. Instead of “I was dancing,” some have suggested “I exposed myself.” But it is probably better to say something like “that I acted in this way” (Bible en français courant) or “that I manifested my joy” (La Bible du Semeur). On the words before the LORD, see verse 16 as well as 3.28 and 1 Sam 1.19.

Above your father: different language may express this idea in a variety of ways. The idea is that of showing preference for one person over another in making a selection. The LORD decided that David rather than Saul should be king. David was also chosen above all his house, that is, in preference to anyone in the family of Saul. New American Bible says “who preferred me to your father and all his family.” Contemporary English Version rewords the first part of this sentence in a negative way: “The LORD didn’t choose your father or anyone else in your family to be the leader of his people. The LORD chose me….” This may prove to be a good model in some other languages.

Prince: see the comments on 1 Sam 9.16. The idea here is that of “leader” (New Jerusalem Bible), “ruler” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or “chief” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) rather than the son of a king. See 3.38.

Israel, the people of the LORD: these are two ways of referring to the same people. In some languages it may be better to combine them and say “the people of Israel” as in Good News Translation.

Make merry: see verse 5 as well as 2.14.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Make myself yet more contemptible: David is saying that he will go on celebrating even though this may be considered by Michal and others to bring added disgrace to him. New Jerusalem Bible translates “I will lower myself even further.”

I will be abased: this passive formulation may be made active with David himself as the agent. This is merely another way of saying what has already been said in the first part of the verse. In some cases it may be awkward to repeat the same idea.

In your eyes: this is the reading of the ancient Greek translation. The Hebrew has “in my eyes,” and this is recommended by Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, which gives a {C} rating to the Masoretic Text. Although some translations adopt the reading of the MT (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Fox, New Revised Standard Version, and Contemporary English Version), the vast majority of modern English versions follow the reading “in your eyes” (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, as well as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation). And this seems to fit the context better.

The maids: see verse 20.

The structure of this verse may need to be changed in some languages. A possible model is:

• “… I will continue to celebrate even though you think it makes me look foolish. You think I am a disgrace, but those young women you mentioned will honor me.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The daughter of Saul: in some languages it may be considered unnecessary to repeat this information. But the writer seems to be emphasizing that Michal was not acting like David’s wife but like Saul’s daughter.

Had no child to the day of her death: this wording may imply to some readers that Michal did have a child on the day she died and perhaps even died in childbirth. If there is any danger of misunderstanding, it will be better to say clearly “never had any children” as in Good News Translation, or “remained always without children.” There is no indication whether this implies a curse from God or the fact that David no longer slept with her. It is entirely possible that both were implied by the writer. This verse almost certainly signifies that God had rejected the family of Saul in favor of David.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Now: this actually translates a common Hebrew transitional verb form that is often rendered “And it came to pass” (King James Version). Here it introduces a new part of the story beginning after David had taken up residence in his new palace. It seems to imply the passage of a certain amount of time between the events related in chapter 6 and the story that follows. The word when may also be translated “after,” and in this context such a rendering seems better. Several versions begin this verse “After the king had settled in his palace….” Note that Good News Translation makes this verse an independent sentence and has no transition word at all in the beginning. However, if a separate sentence is used, it will probably be a good idea in many languages to begin with something like “Later….” It may be helpful also to state the name of the king, David, which is left implicit in Hebrew and consequently in Revised Standard Version.

Dwelt in his house: the idea contained in the verb is that of permanent residence rather than merely spending the night. Moffatt reads “After the king had taken up residence in his palace.” Or translators may prefer to say “settled in his palace” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh as well as Good News Translation).

Given him rest: the expression used here is found frequently in Joshua (1.15; 21.44; and 23.1, for example). It contains the notion of calm and serenity allowing for relaxation. The same term is used of the rest following creation in Exo 20.11, and of the Sabbath rest required of the people of Israel (Exo 23.12; Deut 5.14). One way of translating the expression in this context is “let his kingdom be at peace” (Contemporary English Version) or “granted him safety” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Other languages may use a form like “caused him to have peace.”

Round about: this is left out of Good News Translation, but the idea is that David had enemies “around him” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New International Version). These more than likely were nations opposed to the nation of Israel, rather than being individual enemies of David within his own group. Some other models are “on every side” (An American Translation, New American Bible), “on all sides” (Revised English Bible), and “surrounding him” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .